Big buildings also heating up Manila: study

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - Big buildings and other large structures could mean urbanization and development, but can also increase temperatures in a city.

Based on a study by Pagasa weather specialist Nivagine Nievares, the rapid development in the metropolis has contributed greatly to the scorching heat.

Saturday turned out to be the hottest day on record in Manila this year, with temperatures reaching nearly 36 degrees Celsius.

In her study, Nievares said the material and shape of the different structures distort or absorb heat.

She said urban surface materials absorb heat from the sun “and store a lot of energy which convert most of this energy into sensible heat flux. The increase of sensible heat flux contributes to the increase of temperature over the urbanized area.”

She said this has caused at least one to two degrees Celsius uptick in Metro Manila, compared to neighboring provinces.

"May 1-2 degrees Celsius difference and that's the factor of urbanization. For instance [while it is] 32°C in Bulacan, it is 34°C in Manila,” she said.